Immature Men: 27 Manchild Signs & Why You Should Stay Away from Him

Immature men will drive you insane. If you think you have a manchild in your midst, you need to know for sure. These signs will give you a clue. 

It’s an unfortunate reality that we can’t escape – immature men are all over the place. Even grown men can be ridiculously immature and sometimes it makes things much harder for you. If you want your romantic life to be easier and more fulfilling, you need to steer clear of immaturity and learn to spot a manchild when you see one.

They probably won’t be at your maturity level and this often makes it hard for them to understand commitment and what you need to make a relationship work.

[Read: What age does a man emotionally mature? 19 signs he’s grown a real pair]

What is a manchild?

A manchild is a man who is so immature that they are considered a child. By ‘immature’ we mean that this man can’t take care of himself in any way, shape, or form.

For some reason, it seems like there is a manchild epidemic threatening to take over the world. Since our generations don’t stress the need for growing up, some people just never seem to catch up to their actual age anymore.

Yet, in past generations, you needed to get your act together by the age of 16 and grow up! [Read: 21 secret signs of a bad relationship that signal a bad future ahead]

Why you should steer clear of immature men

If you’re looking for love, it should definitely NOT be with guys who are really immature. They’re the worst types of guys to date because they seem really fun but then you realize that’s where the positives end.

You’ll end up having issues when it comes to communication, the depth of your relationship in general, and you’ll run into problems when you discuss your future.

You may want something a hell of a lot different for your future than he does. He might not even have an idea for his future in mind, either. [Read: 16 types of guys you should avoid like the plague]

How to spot immature men from a mile away

If you’re trying to avoid immaturity in the guys you date, you’ll want to figure it out early. Here’s how to tell if a guy is a manchild and super immature. These signs may not be super noticeable at first, but after some practice, you’ll be able to point out the immature men easily.

1. They get upset about small things very easily

This is usually just because they don’t possess the skills to solve problems on their own yet. And that means they’re pretty immature.

When someone is always getting upset about things that aren’t really that big of a deal, it means they’re immature.

2. They’re jealous

Those who are jealous are usually insecure. Those who are insecure are usually pretty immature. They haven’t yet figured out how to accept themselves as is.

This means you can run into a lot of issues with jealously simply because they’ll be comparing themselves to anyone else you ever talk to. Which obviously causes major fights and unhappiness. Manchild alert![Read: 25 signs a guy is jealous that he just can’t hide]

3. There’s no communication on their end

Immature men have trouble communicating in general. They don’t really know how to effectively communicate and they often don’t understand the importance of it, either.

If a guy is having major communication issues early on, he’s probably really immature. Watch out!

4. They get weirded out by commitment

Guys who are very immature don’t like commitment. They think about all the stereotypes of guys in committed relationships and they run for the hills. This is a major sign of immaturity and those of a manchild.

It takes a mature man to admit that commitment is actually great. It makes him stronger when committing to a single person and being faithful. Immature men, on the other hand, are scared by it. [Read: How to get through the most common commitment issues]

5. They don’t have plans for the future

If you ask a guy what they want for their future and they shrug or mumble about how they don’t know, they’re pretty damn immature.

Failing to make plans shows a lack of interest in your future and that definitely shows a level of immaturity.

6. They constantly complain about things rather than changing them

Those who complain and complain and complain without ever doing something to make a difference are really immature. They’d rather bitch and moan about something than do something to fix it.

If you start dating a person like this, he’s a manchild and you should get out as fast as possible. They’re super immature.

7. They don’t like people who are more successful

This is a dislike that’s linked only to the fact that they’re successful. It has nothing to do with anything else. This is a major sign of immaturity because it’s also a form of jealousy.

They’re upset someone else is doing good things mainly because they’re not.

A mature man would see a successful person and want to learn from them. They would look up to them and try to work just as hard to succeed. That person would become more of a role model and less of a hated person. [Read: How to tell the difference between jealousy and envy]

8. He judges you harshly

If you can’t safely open up to someone you’re dating, it’s a pretty big sign something is wrong. And that thing could potentially be his immaturity.

A guy who judges you harshly without knowing the background information is super immature. He’s not taking the time to think things through. He’s judging based on one little thing and that’s it.

9. He’s lazy

People who are mature know that it takes hard work to make things happen. Immature people, however, would rather do nothing and wait. If the guy you’re seeing seems to be super lazy, he’s also probably very immature. [Read: Turn offs for girls – 25 things guys do that girls absolutely hate]

10. He doesn’t respect your opinion

Aka, if he disagrees, he gets pissed instead of talking things out and trying to understand where you’re coming from. This could be about anything, really.

Maybe you two are having a discussion about politics and you disagree with each other. Instead of listening to your reasoning, immature men will just argue and get mad when you don’t agree with them.

11. He always “jokes” with you, but they don’t feel like jokes

His “jokes” are always super harsh digs at you. They’re not innocent little jokes. They’re hurtful.

When a guy is making fun of you in a way that actually hurts you, he’s just really immature and has no regard for your feelings. That’s not really someone you want to be in a relationship with.

12. He doesn’t take responsibility for his actions

Maturity is being able to admit when you’re wrong and apologize for it. Immature men will continuously argue that they weren’t wrong or they’ll ignore the issue altogether.

If a guy is showing this sign that he’s super immature, run. You’ll only have problems with him. [Read: The devious signs of a manipulator you need to watch out for]

13. He’s rude to others

This can be waitresses, random people, cashiers, or really anyone who is supposed to be doing a service for him.

Being mean to those who are trying to help is a major sign of immaturity and a lack of empathy. Both of those qualities aren’t exactly great things to have in a man.

14. He doesn’t stick to his word

This is one of the biggest traits of immature men. Does he stick to his promises when he makes them? If not, it could be a big sign of immaturity.

Guys who are always making promises and never keeping them don’t respect you or their own words. How can you trust someone like that? His immaturity in this sense can cause major issues. [Read: 22 early signs he would be a bad boyfriend]

15. You feel the need to tell him to grow up

If you’re always fighting the urge to tell someone to grow up, then they’re probably immature. You already recognize that they’re acting childish. Need we say more? He’s a manchild.

16. He never cleans up after himself

As in, EVER. A guy who throws dirty dishes into the sink without even rinsing them and then lets them fester there for days until you finally have had enough, is nothing more than your typical manchild.

It’s also possible that he doesn’t clean up after himself not because he’s lazy, but because he actually doesn’t know how to work the dishwasher – or hell, even the sink. [Read: Is you boyfriend lazy and boring? Fix him up for good!]

17. He expects you to do all the household chores

If your boyfriend is harping at you to cook, clean, do the laundry, and all of the stuff that the ‘girl is supposed to do’ he hasn’t matured yet at all.

He’s probably been super-smothered by his mother who did everything for him and he still hasn’t grown out of it.

18. He sulks if he doesn’t get his way

You know, like how a toddler will throw everything they’re holding and lay on the ground screaming until you give them what they want? He’s a lot like that.

He can’t handle it when life in general doesn’t cater to his every need. So, he sulks and throws a tantrum instead.

19. He can’t handle constructive criticism

A manchild just can’t take it when someone tells them how they can do something better. In their immature mind, they’re the best at everything. So he’ll just slump down for a while following constructive criticism.

This is a common trait amongst immature men in general and shows that they believe they’re the most important person in the world.

20. He’s never wrong

If arguing with your boyfriend is completely pointless because there’s just no way he’ll ever see your side because he’s always right, you may be dating a manchild. [Read: Annoying boyfriend habits that most girls experience in a relationship]

21. Any type of game brings out his ugly side

Forget drinking games, board games, and even a nice game of Frisbee because if he loses – or even if he wins – he’ll be a sore loser or a gloating, insulting winner.

You might as well just not bother playing because you know that it won’t end well, either way.

22. He only thinks about himself

Selfishness is a big trait of a manchild. Their inability to think about anyone else in any given situation just proves their immaturity.

They believe the world revolves around them completely and again, it’s probably because their mother did everything for them. [Read: Selfishness in relationships and 15 ways to deal with it the right way]

23. He can’t handle his finances

If he’s spending money left and right with no way of tracking it or even being able to pay for it, you’re dating a manchild. This is another major trait of immature men and it’s one that doesn’t bode well for your relationship.

His lack of financial control will impact on you, especially if you get to the point where you share finances later down the line.

24. He lets his mom treat him like a child

Honestly, we would have to say that about 50% of the responsibility for a guy becoming a manchild lies with how his mother treats him.

If he still lets his mom treat him as she did when he was small, that’s a major red flag. It’s time he grew up! [Read: 21 subtle signs of emotional abuse you may be overlooking]

25. He talks a big game but hardly ever follows through

He may talk tough, he may promise you great things, but if he never–or hardly–follows through with his intentions, then he’s a manchild.

You can’t trust his promises because you know they’re probably not going to come to fruition. He makes plans and then flakes on them. He’s not true to his word and it’s one of the big signs of immature men.

26. If he gets sick, it’s the end of the world

Does he actually act like a child when he’s sick? He might just have a cold but in his eyes, it’s the worst thing to hit the world since the black plague. He also expects you to nurse him back to health, just as his mom did when he was young.

27. He can’t hold a steady job

Does your boyfriend consistently have to be looking for a job because he’ll be fired or quit one after only a few months? If so, it could be a sign that he’s a manchild because he can’t follow rules and maintain a steady job. [Read: 10 types of guys you need to stop dating if you want real love]

Can an immature man ever change?

Of course, everyone can change their ways if they really want to. The problem is that immaturity doesn’t tend to be something people are aware of or like to be pointed out to them.

Fixing a manchild isn’t an easy task. It could take a long time for them to properly mature into a real adult. However, there are some ways to hurry the process along.

1. Be patient

We say this one first because fixing a manchild can be a long and frustrating process. Take it day by day and just remember to be calm.

If you really care about him and want to be with him, be patient with the process. [Read: The 3 big reasons why a man feels emasculated and behaves like a manchild]

2. Communicate with them

You have to tell them what they’re doing and how it’s affecting you. They don’t realize that they’re being immature. Make sure they know how you feel and tell them often so they’re always reminded that they have to be changing something.

3. Use incentives for them to change

If talking to them just isn’t enough, you may have to get real with them. Now, they may not accept this at first, but you’ll have to try.

Tell them that if they can’t grow up and get their act together, you may have to move on. It’s a mean incentive, but it’s also honest down to its core. [Read: 33 signs and qualities that make a guy a really good boyfriend]

Is it worth dating an immature man?

That’s a tough one! It really depends upon the degree of immaturity. If he’s a super-manchild then you’re just going to end up frustrated all the time.

But, if his immaturity isn’t that far up the scale, perhaps you can work with him to change. It’s a personal choice at the end of the day but you have to think about what happens when things don’t go well.

Life always throws us curve balls and you need to be able to handle these things together. That takes a certain amount of maturity. If he’s a manchild, you’re always going to be the one responsible for making the big decisions without much support. 

You have to question whether that’s something you’re willing to handle. For sure, you might love him, but if you can’t handle a total lack of support, you need to walk away. 

[Read: What is a toxic relationship? 53 signs to recognize love that hurts you]

Dating immature men can be one of the most frustrating things. In order to avoid them altogether, you’ll need to know the signs of a manchild first. If a guy is showing you multiple signs from above, ditch him fast!